Did you sit behind the PSG goal goal in the first half and then Chelsea's for the second? My friend and I were facing the same side, but a few sections over to the left. Very impressed with Eden Hazard, and glad I got to see so much of the action up close. Would have been nice if Chelsea played better in the first half, but it was really fun.

I've already seen a few red Liverpool jerseys around Boston for tomorrow's game, so futbol-love seems to be catching on. At least on the East coast .

Went to the Stadium-of-Many-Names (where the Dolphins play) to watch the AC Milan v Chelsea FC Friendly along with 57,000+ other fans Saturday evening. Final was Milan 1-0, but it really didn't matter to me since I went for the fun of seeing 2 of Europe's finest and the current Champions League Champion. Interesting and exciting in it's way, but the NASL Div 2 Strikers winning 5-3 over Atlanta friday night was more fun & much more exciting...

Ticket prices & parking prices were all the market could bear, the 6PM start was hotter 'n hell, and it was still a good time. Joe Robbie made this stadium for both sports teams he owned in the early 1980's; the Miami Dolphins & the Ft Lauderdale Strikers. Consequently a full size soccer pitch fits perfectly. Makes you think the place was designed for such an affair...

Strong rumor circulating during the tailgate that the Miami Dolphin FO will announce Monday that there will be a full series of International Friendlies to be played at the stadium in 2013 (they are claiming that they've made more $$$ with the 3 or 4 they've had there this spring/summer than from the 81 Marlins games played there last summer). With this announcement, or soon after, they are also supposed to formally announce they are seeking an MLS franchise to play in the stadium as soon as MLS decides to increase the league size past 20 teams (as is always the case in just about any rumor of MLS in Miami, David Beckham's name was mentioned as a possible co-owner).

I'm not too sure I like this. They have shown themselves to be one of the most incompetent organization in the NFL over the past few years. I'd hate to have them screw up "football" in all it's permutations like they've done with the once proud Dolphins.

jeez, Neymar is just crazy good. He's likely to be a real superstar after these games are over.

Garber and MLS must be aware of the incompetence of Dolphin ownership, and just adding Beckham wont change that. Plus, unless they could easily show that they will fill the big stadium like Seattle does, they aren't likely to approve a deal to south FLA without a new stadium.

With that said, I believe that Florida can and will support a MLS franchise under the right circumstances. After getting the Cosmos situation done right, I gotta think that FLA is high on Garber's list of expansion possibilities.

Garber and MLS must be aware of the incompetence of Dolphin ownership, and just adding Beckham wont change that. Plus, unless they could easily show that they will fill the big stadium like Seattle does, they aren't likely to approve a deal to south FLA without a new stadium.

With that said, I believe that Florida can and will support a MLS franchise under the right circumstances. After getting the Cosmos situation done right, I gotta think that FLA is high on Garber's list of expansion possibilities.

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The kicker in all this is Marcelo Claure. He has billions to spend & wanted an MLS team. He had the flirtation with Barcelona a few years ago & they were going to bring MLS to Miami in FIU Stadium in 2009 or 2010. Guaranteed.

Then the economy tanked and Barca got cold feet. End of partnership. End of MLS coming to Miami. So much for guarantees.

He still wants his MLS team here. Rumors of his attempting to do that have been part of the landscape since. Accordingly, the rumors have had him in constant contact with Mr Beckham since the fiasco with Barca. This, plus the fact that there has been, and is, a group of fans constantly Emailing & petitioning Garber about bringing MLS back to Miami, have kept the MLS flame alive here.

The fact that the Dolphins are now in the picture is just adding fuel to the fire. And a lot of smoke. Most of us here that care about the sport are trying to sort out exactly what is going on. Right now it is hard to tell who is a player and who is a pretender.

It is known that Garber and MLS want a team in Miami. At least they say so. They see that huge area in the SE US that is empty of teams. Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Charlotte, NC and a few other places are on their radar for possible franchises after NYC gets it's 2nd team.

We see our chances as being 5 to 10 years down the road if we can show that we can support a team. The attendance of 50K + at the Stadium of Many Names has attracted Garber's attention - they are MLS sponsored events - by putting mucho dinero into MLS's coffers. What they want now is to see what the interest is in USA domestic soccer. They've flat out told everyone down here that they are monitoring the attendance at Striker home games. It's stuck at around 3,000 to 3,500. Very few are from Miami. It's not good enough for them. There is another strong rumor circulating that the Strikers will be getting a rather well known name as a team sponsor: Bacardi. Maybe that will help bring in a few more folks. Or not. At least it may give them enough cash to market the team & get it known that they exist. Maybe a coat of paint on an aging stadium would help, too.

In truth, right now Orlando leads all Florida cities in the MLS sweepstakes simply on fan support. Their Div 3 teams gets nearly 10K to their games. Plus, their owners are local and determined to get a popular and existing team into MLS.

We'll see what comes of all this with the Dolphins & their 75K stadium. They say they will draw around 18K to MLS games there. That number would fill Lockhart Stadium. You'd have a difficult time finding them in the Stadium of Many Names.

NJL (..I'll keep you posted on the fun and games......)

ETA: The Dolphin announcement will be Wednesday. The MLS bid is a possibility.

boy, once again England/Great Britain fails in a PK showdown. Sturridge is going to remember that miss the rest of his life. One wonders if they regret not including Beckham now? He'd have easily outplayed Giggs if you ask me.

Absolutely, their new coach is doing a terrific job. By far the best performance by a Canadian women's team ever.

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Abby Wambach's comment about Ms Sinclair being the most under-rated player in the world was proven. She is a wonder. Tancredi ain't bad either. Kudos to the lot of 'em. They played the game of their lives in the best Women's international ever played, IMO. It was even better that USA v Brazil in the last WWC. Outstanding example of how good the game can be.

But blowing three leads in one game was just too much to overcome.

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Only team USA, or possibly the Japanese, would or could overcome Christine Sinclair & Company's performance. She is a wonder. Still, team USA's depth finally got them the win. The fresh legs of USA sub Heather O'Reilly provided the cross that Alex Morgan buried in the 123rd minute for the win.

Funny how you don't hear about Tancredi stomping on Lloyd's head from the Canadians now do you? Everyone knows Canada should have been down a player, yet that isn't mentioned as a bad call by the ref.

The PK looked good to me, and the ref had a very clear view of it, so I don't think there is much to complain about there. Now the keeper taking too long with the ball, there is an argument to be made there.

Bottomline to me, both sides had bad calls go against them. The Canadians should be more focused on how they gave up THREE leads in this game as the reason they lost, not the refs.

Funny how you don't hear about Tancredi stomping on Lloyd's head from the Canadians now do you? Everyone knows Canada should have been down a player, yet that isn't mentioned as a bad call by the ref.

The PK looked good to me, and the ref had a very clear view of it, so I don't think there is much to complain about there. Now the keeper taking too long with the ball, there is an argument to be made there.

Bottomline to me, both sides had bad calls go against them. The Canadians should be more focused on how they gave up THREE leads in this game as the reason they lost, not the refs.

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I thought she stepped over the 18 yard line while punting the ball away(?). She's not the 1st to do that.

Odd that a Norwegian ref gave us a PK on a handball. One of those - a la T Henry - won a gold medal for Norway against us in 2000, I believe. Maybe a payback...

I thought she stepped over the 18 yard line while punting the ball away(?). She's not the 1st to do that.

Odd that a Norwegian ref gave us a PK on a handball. One of those - a la T Henry - won a gold medal for Norway against us in 200, I believe. Maybe a payback...

NJL

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She did both Neil! :0

You are right about the 2000 Olympics. The Norweigan striker clearly had a hand ball that put her between the two American defenders and allowed her to score on Mullinix. And yes, I'm still mad about that non-call!

You are right about the 2000 Olympics. The Norweigan striker clearly had a hand ball that put her between the two American defenders and allowed her to score on Mullinix. And yes, I'm still mad about that non-call!

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Much like team USA used that to their advantage for several years, team Canada will use this event to their advantage, I'm sure. Robbed by the ref to give an undeserved win to the arrogant ones from the south? EVIL! EVIL! I say....

Every keeper now steps over the 18. It's routine. Like dissent or time wasting, it is rarely, if ever called.

NJL (....I'll be rooting for the red & white Maple Leaf to win the women's bronze...say what you will about the outcome of our match and their reaction or their rough play, they've played well enough in this tournament to deserve a medal.......).

BTW, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that Tancredi is suspended for the Bronze Medal game.

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Ain't gonna happen, KH. One of the Canadian players had a verbal confrontation w/the ref after the game. That's a no-no, too. FIFA has decided that any and all sanctions will be decided upon AFTER the bronze medal game.

Ain't gonna happen, KH. One of the Canadian players had a verbal confrontation w/the ref after the game. That's a no-no, too.

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Agreed that it's unlikely anything will happen -even after the game. There was quite a bit of talk about the Spanish men's team being sanctioned (with Muniain singled out as one of the worst offenders) for surrounding the refs after the Honduras game, purposely bumping into them, initiating a fight with the Honduras subs at half time, etc. AFAIK nothing's happened. Yet.

Agreed that it's unlikely anything will happen -even after the game. There was quite a bit of talk about the Spanish men's team being sanctioned (with Muniain singled out as one of the worst offenders) for surrounding the refs after the Honduras game, purposely bumping into them, initiating a fight with the Honduras subs at half time, etc. AFAIK nothing's happened. Yet.

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Yup. The laws of the game state that "A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following 7 offenses:

#2 - shows dissent by word or action"

Of course, if it was used every time that dissent occurs we'd never finish a match because most of the players would be gone for 2 offenses on this alone. Still, IMO, the officials show far too much leniency in not enforcing this more often.

Also, Law 12 also requires a red card and a sending off for:

"#6 - using offensive, insulting or abusive language"

Most players are usually very correct in observing and obeying this, no matter their disagreement....